Apparatus or tool for applying flock



Dec. l5, 1936. w. B. THOMPSON v APPARATUS OR TOOL FOR APPLYING FLQCK Filed June 5, 1935 lPatented Dec. j 15.,-t

UNITED 's'm'rrzsl 2,064,505 v marinus on 'rooL' ron mmc. noci:

Wayne B, Thompson, Winchester, Mass., assigner .to Spray Engineering l Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Company, Somerville,

Application .time s, 193s; sensi No. 614,211

' isolanti.`

#The present invention relates to tools or appa ratus for applying flock, which term is used herein to designate comminuted material, such as cotton, wool,silk, rayon and vegetable fibers.

- It -has been long proposed to use flock form of the dust of vegetable fibers or very ine, J'sifted woolen or cloth refuse, especially that obtained from shearing themap on bloths, as a coating for wall paperto give it a velvety or clothlike appearance. More recently it has been proposed to apply iiock vto many different .kinds of articles oi manufacturev other than wall paper, 'ibut experience has demonstrated that the apparatus formerlyused to apply flock to wall paper is not adaptablcto the many different operating conditions encountered in the extended use of flock. One great difficulty in the use of apparatus heretofore proposed for the application of flock is the liability' of the apparatus to clog owing to the tendency of the flock fibers to felter.

The prncipal object of `the presentinvention to produce a tool or apparatus for universal use by which flock may be applied in a rapid, reliable and economical manner.

To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the features of the present invention relate to c'ertain devices,

combinations and arrangements of parts, hereinafter described and then set forth in the appended claims.

The various features of the present yinvention will be understood readily from an inspection Vof the accompanying drawing, in which, f

Figurelisaviewinplan;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal sectional eleva-` tion;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;v

Fig. 4is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation of a modified form of nozzle.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus or tool for applying flock, is preferably provided with-a metallic body 6 (Fig. 1) which has integral therewith or suitably attached thereto a handle or extension l. The motive agent', lwhich may be air under pressure, ispreferably introduced into thev body portion 6 through the handle 1 which is connected to an air hose 8 through an air hose coupling il. The passage of the air through the body portion 6 is controlled by a valve button Ill. The front end of the body portion is coupled to one end of a short piece of pipe II the other end 5s of which is fitted into a lateral passage4 I2 (Fig. 4) n formed'in 'a distributor I3. The lateral passage l2 communicates with acentral passage I4 formed vertically through the distributor I3.

, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the ock isplaced in a container I5 which is detachably connected to a closure I6 by the same means disclosed inthe patent granted to Preble and Thompson, No, 1,819,117, August 18, 1931. IThe closure I6 is provided with a central, internally threaded, perforated boss I1 into the lower portion of which is threaded the frusto-conical end of Y a hollow pipe I8 depending into the flock within the container I5. The pipe I8 is closed at its bottom en d I3. The upper end of the pipe I8 abuts againstfand communicateswith a hollow nipple l20 15 y having its lower end threaded into the upper portion of the bos's I1. The upperend of the nipple 2li is providedlwith a frus'to-conical head 2l which is held against a frusta-conical seat 22, formed in the bottom of the passage |74, by a. coupling 23.

The closure I6is provided with an'opening 24 (Fig. 4) which-receives the threadedneck 25 of av nozzle head 26. Received on the neck 25, and interposed between an annular shoulder 21, formed on the head 26, and the closure I6, is a packing 25 washer 28, seated in a circular depression formed in the closure I6 around the opening 216.l 'The nozzle head 2B is secured to the closure I6 by a nut 29 threaded on the neck 25 and engaged with vthe bottom ofthe closure I6. yThe nozzle head 30 2G is provided with a vertical passage 30 constituting the outlet-from the container I5.

In order to discharge air under pressure into the container to stir or disperse the mass of flock therein, separate a portion of the moving mass of Aprovided with four equally spaced arms 3| radiat- 40 ing laterally therefrom. Each arm 3l is provided witha blind passage 32 into which air from the pipe I8 flows. The air in each passage 32 discharges into the iiock through an orice33 formed in the arm 3| to the left (Fig. 2) and downwardly 45 on an angle of degrees relative to the center line of the. pipe IB. With this construction the air discharged into the flock through` the orifices 33 causes it tovswrl in a clockwise direction (Fig. y 1) about the pipe IB. As the flock swirls some of it is separated from the massV of flock into particles which commingle with the air. This flock, commingled withthe air, rises and is caused to enter the passage 30 by the'entraining action. 55

o the'air current discharged into the yflock and exhausted through the passage 3l).

Some of the ock swirls into' the upper part of the container adjacent the entrance to the passage 38 at which point the swirling flock encounters, the flock laden air seeking ,an outlet therethrough. The 4mass of flock thus concentrated atthe .entrance to the passage 30 tends' y, to feuer and ifprm ia mat withthe'esiut thatthe flock remains in the container and air only escapes therefrom. Inforder to agitate the mass of flock concentrated at the entrance to the passage 30 to prevent, its feltering, to break it up into iioating particles, and to intensifyA the flock entrained air escaping from the container through the passage 30, the pipe I8 is provided with two upper arms 34 and 35 (Fig. 2), each provided with a blind passage enters the blind passage 3B charges into the container I5 through an orifice 31. The airl which enters the blind passage 36 of .thearm v discharges ,into the container I5 through an orifice 38. The orifices 31 and 38 are formed in the arms 34 and 35, respectively, on the sides thereof which. the passage 30. The orifice chargey the air horizontally on one side of the pipe I8 while the orifice 38 is arrangedto discharge the air laterally and downwardly on an angle of 45 degrees relative tothe vertical plane passing through the center line of the arms 34 vand 35 on theother side of the pipe I8. The air discharged from the oricesv 31 and 38 acts 'on the mass of swirling iiock adjacent the entrance to the passage 38 in a direction opposed to the initialiiock motivating air discharged through the oriiices 33. With this construction and mode oi' operation the mass of ock, concentrated at the entrance tothe passage 38, and which had been previously agitated by the air discharged into the container through the oriiices 33 is agi-A tated by the air discharged into the container \This re-asitation through the orices'31 and 38.

of the mass of ock prevents it from forming a mat of feltered iiock at the entrance to the passage 38, and separates it into particles which commingle with the re-agitating air. 'I'he commingled particles are discharged from the container by the entraining action of the re-agitating sage 30.

air escaping from the container through the pas.

- 'I'he orifices 31 and 38 constitute an intensiiier to intensify the density of the ock laden air escaping from the container.

The ilock which enters entraining action of the air current exhausting from the container I5 is delivered into a mixing chamber `3! formed in the nozzle head 28 and is driven by the entraining air current against the internal wall of the mixing chamber opposite the passage 38 and then to ing the rear end facey of As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lip 4I is provided with a flat upper face 43 a portion of which forms the bottom wall of an elongated peripheral slot 44 formed centrally in the nozzle 42. 42 ls provided with a rear iiat face which is held -against the front iiat face of the nozzle head 7.6

by a retaining member 45 having an internally threaded' portion to engage external threads on the head26 and an intur'ned portion 48 to engage 36. The air which of the arm 34 dis Afaceuthe entrance of 31 is arrangedto disthe passage `3Il by the aninclined Wall .40 forml l a lip 4I integral with and projecting from a domeshaped nozzle '42.

The nozzle from into engagement with the curved internal wall 48 of the dome-shaped nozzle 42. Fromithev curved w'all 48 the ock glances to the nat surface 43 which spreads the flock and causes it to emergefrom the elongated slot 44 in a. concentrated, fanned-out condition.

The passage I4, purposely, is constructedl to conduct into the container I5, an. excessive amount of air under pressure to insure the discharge of the iiock in a volume greater than `that needed under ordinary operating conditions.

In order to be able to cut.down the amount of v compressed air delivered to the container and lthus reduce, as required, the volume of the flock discharged, -thedistributor I3 is provided with a valve 43 havingl a body portion threaded into the distributor I3, a knurled head 5U, anda cylindrical stem 5I, arranged to extend through the passage I4 laterally in that portion thereof interposed between the passage I2 and the container I5. As shown in Fig. 4 the passage I4 is closed by the stern 5I. By manipulating the knurled head -58 the stem 5I may be withdrawn varying distances to provide varying restrictionsy in the passage I4 through which the compressed air flows. The desired adjustment of the valve 49 is maintained by a locknut 52.

Under` some conditions of operation it may be desirable to thin the volume of flock discharged by an auxiliaryblast of air. To this end the nozzle head 2.6 is provided with a passage 53 through which air under pressure is discharged into the chamber 39 from a conduit 54, one end of which is threaded into the head 26 adjacent the passage 53 and the other end of which is threaded into thehead 2B adjacent the upper end of the passage I4.

The 'passage I4 above the lateral passage I2',

may be closed by a valve 55 similar to the valve 49. When the valve 55 is closed the dock isvdis charged by the entraining action of the air which escapes from the container I5. When the valve 55 is open air under pressure flows to the chamber 39 and thins out the-entrained flock passing therethrough. The valves 49 and 55 are, in effect, pressure reducing valves.

The flock used in coating the workvaries widely in kind, quality and flneness. By manipulating the valves 49 and 55 the pressure of the air delivered into the container I5 and to the nozzle head 26 may be varied as desired to meet different operating conditions and to suit the requirements for theA peculiar characteristic of the particular. ock being handled.

. By) loosening and then tightening the retain` ing member 4 5, the nozzle 42 may be adjusted angularly to locate the slot 44 in any desired plane,` and thus vary the plane of the attened discharge of iiock. If a fan discharge is not suited to the particular operating ,condition the nozzle 42 maybe removed and a nozzle 56 comprising a. mixing chamber 51 and a discharge tube 53, tapering internally slightly from the chamber 51 to a round discharge orifice 59. may be substituted therefor.

To apply the ock, the work is coated with a suitable adhesive. The handle 1 of the apparatus is engaged -with` the palm of the operatives hand 1 of the communication between the `theccaied work, care being taken to drive the flock into the adhesive of the previously coated work. In order to prevent the formation of dock mounds on the work the operative after each flock applying operation directs the dock slantwise at the work with the result that the excess iiock is blown therefrom and subsequently recovered for re-use. Usually it is n to apply successive coats of ilock to the adheslvely coated work in order to obtain an even surface having a velvety or cloth-like appearance.

Referring to Fig. 3, the e '53 is made smaller than the slot M in order that when theauxiliary air'jet is used it will not create a condition of pressure in the chamber l! operating to retard the ilow of the flock laden air ou of the e 3l.

Nothing herein explained is to be interpr as limiting the various features of the present invention in the scope of its application to use in connection with the particular apparatus or the particular mode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation'. While the particulars of construction herein set forth are well suited to one mechanical form of the invention and to the use to which it is put,

-it is not limited to this use, nor to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be modified within the skill of the artisan'without departing from the true scope of the' actual i`u venticn, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of generic terms and expressionsinclusive of various modications.

What is claimed as,new, is:

1. A tool or apparatus for applying flock having, in combination, a container for the iiock, a nozzle, means for introducing air under pressure into the container, and a connection between the container and the nozzle permitting the escape from the Acontainer by way of the nozzle of at least a portion of the air introduced into the container, the withdrawal of the iiock from the container and its discharge through the nozzle by the entraining action of the escaping air, said air introducing means including means for discharging air within the container in the general direction of the ock and means for discharging air within the container in the general direction of the connection between the container and the nozzle.

2. A tool or apparatus for applying ock having, in combination, a container for the flock, means for subjecting the flock in the container to the action of a motive agent, and a nozzle mounted above the container and communicating therewith permitting the escape from the container by way of -the nozzle of at least a portion of the motive agent introduced into the container, the withdrawal of the iiock from theV container and its discharge through the nozzle by the entraining action of the escaping motive agent, said means for subjecting the flock in the container to the action of a motive agent including means for discharging motive agent within the container in the general direction of' the iiock and means for discharging motive agent within the container in the general direction k container and the nozzle.

3. Atool or apparatus for applying dock having, in combination, a container for the ilock, a nozzle, means for introducing air under pres- 'ing, in'combination, a container for the iiock, a

clomre for the container having an inlet and an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet,

means for introducing air under pressure through the inletinto the container toimpart movement .to the Bock, to separate from the dock oating particles, and to discharge these iioating particles through the outlet by the entraining action of the air seeking to escape therethrough, and auxiliary means for introducing air under pressure `into the container to re-agitate the flock therein concentrated at the outlet and intensify the density ofthe iiock laden air escaping from the container through the outlet.

5. A tool or apparatus for applying iiock having, in combination, a container for the iiock, a closure for the container having an inletand an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet, means for-introducing air' under pressure ,into the container including a vertical pipe connected to the inlet and provided with a closed end and a plurality of arms adjacent thereto, each arm havoutlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet,

means for introducing air under pressure into the container including a vertical pipe connected to the inlet and provided with a closed end, a plurality of lower arms adjacent thereto, and a plurality of upper arms interposed between the inlet and the lower arms, each lower arm having'an orifice for discharging air into the body of the flock ina lateral and downward direction, each upper arm having an oriiice arranged at one side of the outlet, one of said upper arm orifices discharging air horizontally in the general direction of the'Ioutlet and another one of said upper arm orifices 4discharging air laterally in the general direction of the outlet and downwardly therefrom.

7. A tool or apparatus for applying iiock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a closurefor the container having an inlet and an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet, means for introducing air under pressure into the container including a vertical pipe connected to v the inlet and provided with a closed end.' a plurality oi' lower arms adjacent thereto, and a plurality of upper arms interposed between the inlet and the lower arms, each lower arm having an orce for discharging air into the body of the fiockdn lateral and downward direction, each upper arm having an orifice arranged at one side and means for introducing air under pressure into for introducing airunder pressure into the. con- 5 the container, said means including a vertical tainer to impart movement to the flock, to -seppipe connected to the inlet and provided with a arate from the ock floating particles, and to disclosed end, a plurality of arms adjacent thereto, charge these oating particles through the outlet at least one of said arms being adapted to disinto the mixing chamber by the entraining action charge air inthe general direction of the ock, oi the air seekingtoescape therethrough, auxilia- 10 and a plurality of arms adjacent the inlet end oi ry.. means for introducing air under pressure into the pipe adapted to discharge air in the general the container to re-agitate the flock concentrated direction of the outlet. at k,the outlet and auxiliary means for intro- 9. A tool or' apparatus for applying flock havducing air under pressure into the mixing chaming, in combination, a container for the flock, berto thin the volume of Ilock therein. 15

a closure forthe container having an inlet and an 12- A i100] or apparati-1S fOl DDlyinE OCk havoutlet therein, a mixing chamber mounted on the ing, in combination, a container for the flock, a closure in communication with the outlet', `a closure for the container, a mixing chamber nozzle connected to the .mixing chamber, and mounted on the closure in communication theremeans for introducingl air under pressure into through with the interior of the container. a 20 the container, said lmeans including a vertical nozzle connected to the mixing chamber, means pipe connected to the inlet and provided with a for introducing air under pressure into the conclosed end, means carried by said pipe for distainer at points adjacent the closure and at a charging air in the general direction of the flock, level vtherebeneath, and means carried by the and means carried by the pipe for discharging, closure outside the container for introducing 25 air inthe general direction of the outlet. ar'under 'pressure into the' mixing chamber.

10. A tool or apparatus for applying flock hav- 13. A tool or apparatus for applying vock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a ing, in combination, a container for the ock, a closure for the container provided with an inlet closure for the container provided with an inlet and an outlet therein, a mixing chamber in comand an outlet, a mixing chamber above the closure 30 'munication with the outlet, a nozzleconnected toA communicating with the container through the the mixing chamber, means for introducing air outleta nomle secured to' the mixing chamber, under pressure into the body of the nook within means for introducing air under presure through the container, means for introducingA air under the inlet into the container, separate means for pressure into the container in the general direcintroducing air under Pressure IIJO the mixing 35 ing, in combination, a container :for the ock, a closure for thecontainer having an inlet and an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet,

tion of the outlet, and means for introducing airA under pressure into the mixing chamber.

11. A tool or apparatus for applying ock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a

8. A tool or apparatus for applying ock havclosure for the container provided with an inlet and an outlet therein,y a mixing chamber mounted on the closure in communication with the outlet. a-nozzle connected to the mixing chamber, means chamber and valves for controlling the admission of air into the container and mixing chamber, respectively.

WAYNE B. THCMPSON.

cER'rIrIcATE or comtfcfrron.

-Patent No. 2,064,505. December 15, 1936.

WAYNE B. THOMPSON.y

l It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed :speciiicat-ion of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:A Page 1, first l column, line 21,' for ".prncipal" read principal; page `3, second column, line 36, claim 5, strike out the word "be;` page 4, second column, line 13, claim 11, after "outlet" insert' a comma; Aand that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that lthe s ame may conform to th record of the case in the lPatent Officef y Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February, A. D. 19'3'7.

Henry Van Arsdale y(Seal) 'A Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and means for introducing air under pressure into for introducing airunder pressure into the. con- 5 the container, said means including a vertical tainer to impart movement to the flock, to -seppipe connected to the inlet and provided with a arate from the ock floating particles, and to disclosed end, a plurality of arms adjacent thereto, charge these oating particles through the outlet at least one of said arms being adapted to disinto the mixing chamber by the entraining action charge air inthe general direction of the ock, oi the air seekingtoescape therethrough, auxilia- 10 and a plurality of arms adjacent the inlet end oi ry.. means for introducing air under pressure into the pipe adapted to discharge air in the general the container to re-agitate the flock concentrated direction of the outlet. at k,the outlet and auxiliary means for intro- 9. A tool or' apparatus for applying flock havducing air under pressure into the mixing chaming, in combination, a container for the flock, berto thin the volume of Ilock therein. 15

a closure forthe container having an inlet and an 12- A i100] or apparati-1S fOl DDlyinE OCk havoutlet therein, a mixing chamber mounted on the ing, in combination, a container for the flock, a closure in communication with the outlet', `a closure for the container, a mixing chamber nozzle connected to the .mixing chamber, and mounted on the closure in communication theremeans for introducingl air under pressure into through with the interior of the container. a 20 the container, said lmeans including a vertical nozzle connected to the mixing chamber, means pipe connected to the inlet and provided with a for introducing air under pressure into the conclosed end, means carried by said pipe for distainer at points adjacent the closure and at a charging air in the general direction of the flock, level vtherebeneath, and means carried by the and means carried by the pipe for discharging, closure outside the container for introducing 25 air inthe general direction of the outlet. ar'under 'pressure into the' mixing chamber.

10. A tool or apparatus for applying flock hav- 13. A tool or apparatus for applying vock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a ing, in combination, a container for the ock, a closure for the container provided with an inlet closure for the container provided with an inlet and an outlet therein, a mixing chamber in comand an outlet, a mixing chamber above the closure 30 'munication with the outlet, a nozzleconnected toA communicating with the container through the the mixing chamber, means for introducing air outleta nomle secured to' the mixing chamber, under pressure into the body of the nook within means for introducing air under presure through the container, means for introducingA air under the inlet into the container, separate means for pressure into the container in the general direcintroducing air under Pressure IIJO the mixing 35 ing, in combination, a container :for the ock, a closure for thecontainer having an inlet and an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to the outlet,

tion of the outlet, and means for introducing airA under pressure into the mixing chamber.

11. A tool or apparatus for applying ock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a

8. A tool or apparatus for applying ock havclosure for the container provided with an inlet and an outlet therein,y a mixing chamber mounted on the closure in communication with the outlet. a-nozzle connected to the mixing chamber, means chamber and valves for controlling the admission of air into the container and mixing chamber, respectively.

WAYNE B. THCMPSON.

cER'rIrIcATE or comtfcfrron.

-Patent No. 2,064,505. December 15, 1936.

WAYNE B. THOMPSON.y

l It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed :speciiicat-ion of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:A Page 1, first l column, line 21,' for ".prncipal" read principal; page `3, second column, line 36, claim 5, strike out the word "be;` page 4, second column, line 13, claim 11, after "outlet" insert' a comma; Aand that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that lthe s ame may conform to th record of the case in the lPatent Officef y Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February, A. D. 19'3'7.

Henry Van Arsdale y(Seal) 'A Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

